Dumpster Rocker

So, my aunt rescued this old rocking chair from a dumpster. She said she found a toddler rocker and asked if I wanted it. I of course said yes....who turns down a free dumpster rocker? Not me! Anyway, when I got it I noticed that it not really toddler sized, it's way too big. It's not really adult sized either though, its pretty small. It's like a 3/4 sized rocker. We're kinda small people though, so I decided to make it a front porch rocker. As soon as the Husband saw it sitting on the front porch he cringed and asked "are we really keeping that nasty thing?" Umm, yes, but its not going to stay that way...did we just meet? Anyway, this is why he cringed, its a homly little thing....

...and it might have had a couple of things wrong with it...

So here we go:

Rip off nasty (nasty!) fabric.

 Sand.

Prime.

Paint.

 Have the little helper help (haha) cut fabric.

Replace nasty foam after drenching with Febreeze.

Cover with fabric, fold under edges, and nail.

Use fabric glue to add edging (I'm fairly certain that this is not how the professionals do it, but whatever).

And here it is!

I spent about $10 fixing up this rocker..about $5 on spray paint and $5 on the edging. The fabric is leftover from being rejected for my dining room curtains.  While working on this I came up with a little challenge for myself...to create an entire front porch for under $100. I would like about four chairs, an end table, a rug, a loveseat/bench and some wall decor. Should be interesting!

Linked to:

Keeping it Simple, Dittle Dattle, CraftOManiac, Be Colorful, The Girl Creative, Running with Glitter, Making the World Cuter, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Mad in Crafts, Polly Want A Crafter, Sew Chatty, Coastal Charm, The DIY Showoff, Lines Across My Face, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Confessions, Homework, Not Just A Housewife, Me and my Boys, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Sugar Bee, A Bowl Full of Lemons, At Home With K, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Primitave & Proper, Domestically Speaking, Sew Much Ado, Blue Cricket Design, Passionately Artistic, Lil Luna, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, The Thrifty Home, Home Savvy A to Z, Beyond the Picket Fence, Shabby Creek Cottage, Fireflies & Jellybeans, Christina's Adventures, The 36th Avenue, House of Hepworths, Nothing But County, Serenity Now, Remodelaholic, 30 Handmade Days, Design It Chic, The Shabby Nest, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Miss Mustard Seed, Fun to Craft, Chic on a Shoestring, Freckeld Laundry, Sassy Sites, delicateCONSTRUCTION, Blissful & Domestic, Finding Fabulous, A Little Knick Knack, Kreative Korner, Addicted 2 Decorating, Happy Hour Projects, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Things, I Heart Nap Time, Under The Table and Dreaming, Designer Garden, Homemaker on a Dime, Perfectly Imperfect, 504 Main, The Tattered Tag, French Country Cottage, Let Birdz Fly, Ginger Snap Crafts, Southern Hospitality

How To Make an Envelope Closure Pillow

After posting my chair redo earlier this week, I thought I might share with you how I made the pillow. This is a super simple sewing project and a great place to start if your new to sewing. If your not new to sewing than just keep on moving - I don't want you picking apart my amateur tutorial!  : )

* First pick your fabric. This is the best part! Don't be afraid to go with something bold, its just a throw pillow and is so easy to change whenever the mood strikes.

* Measure and cut your fabric. For a 16 x 16 pillow you should cut one square at 17 x 17 and one at 17 x 25. The second piece must be wider to accommodate the overlay of the envelope closure.
 

* Here is what your pieces should look like. Helpful hint - if you have hardwood floors like I do (or tile), use the lines in the wood to cut straight lines.

(I know the bottom piece here doesn't look like a square, but it is, I promise)

* Next, cut your wider piece in half.

* At this point I broke out the iron, but it's not a must - you could just use pins for this step. Fold over and press (or pin) the long edge of the pieces you just cut. This will make the finished edge on the envelope closure.

* Bust out the sewing machine and stitch along the inner edge of the fold. You could hand stitch this if you don't have a machine. Buying a machine doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg, I bought mine six years ago for $60 and it does everything I need. Plus its blue...bonus!

* If your stitching isn't exactly straight, don't worry about it. See how the top piece is kinda crooked? I put that one on the inside of the envelope... no one will ever see it.

* Place your pieces together with the printed sides on the inside and envelopes toward the center.

* Pin the edges to keep everything straight while your sewing. You don't have to go crazy here, 3-4 pins on a side is more than enough.

* Sew around the perimeter of the pillow. When you come to a corner just lift the foot on the machine, turn your pillow, and keep going. It's best to keep one continuous stitch.

* Cut off the excess material from the edges. If your stitch is very near the edge this may not be necessary.

* Square off the corners. This will make for pointier corners than ones that have too much fabric in them.

* Turn your pillow cover right side out - here is how the envelope closure should look.

* That's it, just stuff in your pillow and your done!  Here is how the back will look when it is finished.

 

...And here is the front!

Hope that was helpful! Once you get this down its easy to start adding embellishments and whatnot - the possibilities are endless!

Linked to:

Polly Want A Crafter, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Running with Glitter, Be Colorful, Mad in Crafts, Keeping it Simple, Dittle Dattle, CraftOManiac, At Home with K, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Coastal Charm, Sugar Bee Crafts, Bowl Full of Lemons, Creative Itch, Confessions, Topsy Turvey, Homework, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Not Just a Housewife, All Thingz Related, DIY by Design, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Lil Luna, House of Hepworths, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Christina's Adventures, Beyond the Picket Fence, delicateCONSTRUCTION, Remodelaholic, Freckled Laundry, Finding Fabulous, Chic on a Shoestring, Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Shabby Nest, Fun to Craft, Be Different Act Normal, Lolly Jane, Tatertots & Jello, Nifty Thrifty Things, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Nap Time, Sew Chatty, Lines Across My Face, The DIY Home Sweet Home

Quick Chair Redo

So, I found this chair at Target on clearence for $8....marked down from $40. $40!! It doesn't exactly match what we got going on 'round here, but for eight bucks I figured I'd take it home and make it a front porch chair.

Of course, I couldn't leave it as is though - its light wood and chrome and way too modern. While I can't chage the modern part, I can certainy change the rest! I picked one of my rejected paint samples from the kitchen cabinets and got to work. I removed the legs and spray painted them pewter, a couple of coats of paint, a coat of poly, and viola!

I made a pillow to go on it - to match some of the cusions I'm planning to make for our other "outdoor" furniture.

And no, I'm not going to show you a picture of it all perfect and matchy on my front porch - it's currently a mess. We don't have a garage or basement or anything of that nature, so our front porch is where all the magic happens. As in its usually covered in tools, halfway finished projects, the husbands motorcycle, toddler toys....   Yes, we're THAT house.  Just be glad we're not your neighbors ; )

Linked to:

Running with Glitter , CraftOManiac , Dittle Dattle , Keeping it Simple , Be Colorful , Polly Want A Crafter , Mad in Crafts , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , Making the World Cuter , The Girl Creative , At Home with K , delicateCONSTRUCTION , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , Homework , Not Just a Housewife , Topsy Turvey , Me and My Boys , Sugar Bee , Reasons to Skip the Housework , Tip Junkie , Primitave & Proper , DIY by Design , Savvy Southern Style , Domestically Speaking , Sew Much Ado , Someday Crafts , Passionately Artistic , Lil' Luna , Handy Man Crafty Woman , The Shabby Chic Cottage , Beyond the Picket Fence , Christina's Adventures , Fireflies & Jellybeans , Creations by Kara , House of Hepworths , Perfectly Imperfect , Saved by Suzy , The Shabby Nest , Fun to Craft , A Bowl Full of Lemons , Chic on a Shoestring , Serenity Now , Freckled Laundry , Design it Chic , 30 Days , Remodelaholic , delicateCONSTRUCTION , Addicted 2 Decorating , Tatertots and Jello  , Be Different Act Normal , Lolly Jane , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , The Girl Creative , I Heart Nap Time , Under the Table and Dreaming , Nifty Thrifty Things

Broken Blinds Picture Frame

So back when the little man was a couple months old, I got a friend to take some pictures of him. He was being super fussy that day (of course), and it was hard to get any pictures of him NOT grimacing. But then, by total fluke, we managed to capture the most epic baby picture of all time...



Epic, I know.  So of course I had to order a giant print. The problem was, I didn't want to pay for a giant frame...giant frames are expensive. It sat round for awhile and I forgot about it while we moved.  When we got into our house I noticed some of the blinds were broken (and still under warranty!). I couldn't just throw them away. Who in their right mind would throw away broken blinds, lol.  An idea started to form....

I ended up layering the blinds and attaching with wood glue. This took a ton of measuring! Here is the end result...

It sits in my entryway and is the first thing people notice when they walk in. One day Elijah is going to be so very embarrassed by it...perhaps I'll be a nice mom and move it before then. Perhaps.

It ended up looking very Santa Fe-ish, but that's okay, we're southwestern friendly 'round here. I was also worried about the holes in the blinds looking....well, dumb...but I think they add to it. I'm now wishing I had kept all the leftover blinds...imagine the possibilities!

My friend, Loren, has since moved to the Chattanooga area and is starting her own photography business! Her website is under construction, so for now she can be reached on her facebook page here. If you live in that area you should look her up...she is totally awesome and can do any event!

Linked to:

Be Colorful                                                        Dittle Dattle

The Girl Creative                                               CraftOManiac

Keeping it Simple                                              Making the World Cuter

Polly Want a Crafter                                          Coastal Charm

Sarahndipities                                                    All thingz Related

Sugar Bee Crafts                                               Not Just a Housewife

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia                       Homework

Topsy Turvey                                                    Tip Junkie

Thrifty Decor Chick                                           DIY by Design

Lil' Luna                                                            Passionately Artistic

Savvy Southern Style                                         Handy Man, Crafty Woman

Today's Creative Blog                                       Crafty Confessions

Sugar and Dots                                                 Someday Crafts

Fireflies & Jellybeans                      Beyond the Picket Fence

The Shabby Chic Cottage                       House of Hepworths

Somewhat Simple                                  504 Main

The Shabby Nest                                  Remodelaholic   

Finding Fabulous                                  Thirty Handmade Days     

Design it Chic                                      Chic on a Shoestring

Fingerprints on the Fridge                      Addicted 2 Decorating

Tatertots and Jello                                Lolly Jane

I Heart Nap Time                                  Be Different Act Normal

Under the Table and Dreaming               Nifty Thrifty Things   

A Little Knick Knack

Goodbye Skullet : A Step by Step Tutorial on How to Get Rid of Your Toddlers Wicked Bad Skullet

Step one - Convince husband that haircut is needed and that having a toddler with a "super cool" rat tail is, in fact, not super cool at all.

Step two - Locate said toddler.  He will most likely be found emptying dresser drawers, standing atop the coffee table, or tormenting the dog.

Step three - Attempt to get wiggly toddler to sit still for before pictures of wicked bad skullet.  Halfway succeed.

Step four - Brace yourself for freak out.  Be pleasantly surprised when toddler thinks clippers are the absolute best thing ever.

Step five - Be relieved that toddler now looks like his parents love him.  Be sad that he now looks more like a kid that a baby.

Step six - Look lovingly at wispy little lock of hair on counter. Take picture. Tell yourself you should just throw it away because your not a weirdo. Also tell yourself you should keep it to put in scrapbook. Leave on counter for a few days because you can't make up your mind.

Dead Tree + Fake Flower Awesomeness

Pottery Barn had some beautiful blooming branches in their spring catalog. I love how they look, but dang...they're expensive! So I decided to make my own blossoming branches. Now, if I lived somewhere else I could have gone outside, snipped some perfect branches, and called it a day. BUT...I live in South Texas and where trees consist mostly of scraggly cedar bushes. While looking online for a cheaper version if the PB branches, an idea started to form. I planted a live oak in the backyard a little while back and it totally didn't make it...

I know its hard to see, but its there, right in the middle, dead as a doornail.  Sooo...I chopped it down, brought it inside and got out my glue gun. I don't have any pictures of the process because this was a pre-blog project, but basically all I did was get some faux pink flowers and glue them to my dead little tree. My goal was to make it look like a blossoming cherry that you see in springtime. I'm not sure if it looks like that, but I like it anyway. And it only cost about 5 bucks (suck it Pottery Barn!) For the base I found a tall glass thingy at Ross and filled it with rocks from our gravel pit...here is the finished product!

While we're on the subject of fake trees - I have a bonus project to show you!

I like to paint - though I'm not particularily good ant it and won't attemept anything thats not abstact. I wanted a tall painting for the blank little hallway between the living room and our bedroom. Since I'm on a tree kick I decided to paint...a tree! My inspiration came from this painting I found on Etsy....



My tree looks quite a bit different...I really

 just liked the way the leaves looked in the one above. And that it looked easy. Easy is good.

Here is mine!

The Etsy painting cost $225...mine cost $20! Whoop whoop!

Linked to:

AskAnna...                                                                        SomedayCrafts                                                                                                   The DIY Showoff                                                             Savvy Southern Style                                              
Keeping It Simple                                                             Handy Man, Crafty Woman
Boogieboard Cottage                                                      Sew Much Ado                                                                     
Polly Want A Crafter                                                       The Thrifty Home                    
The DIY Home Sweet Home                                Passionately Artistic
Somo's Sweet Stuff                                                          House of Hepworths                                
Making the World Cuter                                    The Shabby Chic Cottage
Me Making Do                                                Somewhat Simple
Mad in Crafts                                                  Fireflies & Jellybeans
Craft-O-Maniac                                               504 Main                                                        
Dittle Dattle                                                    Skip to my Lou
Life Made Lovely                                             Finding Fabulous                      
Coastal Charm                                                 Design it Chic     
Hope Studios                                                  The Shabby Nest
Todays Creative Blog                                       Fingerprints on the Fridge                                                        
Sugar Bee Crafts                                              Chic on a Shoestring             
Not Just a Housewife                                        Remodelaholic
Funky Polkadot Giraffe                                      Just a Girl                          
The Blackberry Vine                                         Tidy Mom
Be Colorful                                                     At the Picket Fence                                             
Tip Junkie                                                      Addicted 2 Decorating
Momma Hen                                                   Tatertots & Jello
Homework                                                      Lolly Jane
DIY by Design                                                Nifty Thrifty Things
I Heart Nap Time                                             Thirty Days
Thrifty Decor Chick                                         At Home With K
Craftionary                                                                     Saved By Love